Plural Formation
From Scottish Gaelic Grammar Wiki
- for a definition of plural see Plural (definition)
- for an article on the inflection of adjectives in the plural see XXX
Contents
Attenuation (Slenderization)
Orthographic i
Make the final consonant slender orthographically by inserting an i before the final consonant (attenuate the final consonant). This sometimes shifts the pronunciation of the final vowel as well. /bor'əNəx/ --> /bor'əNiç/.
Common singular Common/Dative plural English am balach na balaich boy am boireannach na boireannaich woman an cat na cait cat an t-òran na h-òrain song an solus na soluis light
Orthographic vowel change
Make the final vowel slender (attenuate it) by changing the orthographic vowel
Common singular Common/Dative plural English am bòrd na bùird table am fiadh na fèidh deer an t-iasg na h-èisg fish am mac na mic son an t-òrd na h-ùird hammar
Suffix (e)an
Suffix -an
Common singular Common/Dative Plural English a' bhròg na brògan shoe am brat na bratan carpet a' bhùth na bùthan shop a' chluasag na cluasagan pillow a' chraobh na chraobhan tree a' dhealbh na dealbhan picture an gille na gillean boy an làr na làran floor an leanabh na leanabhan child a' mhuc na mucan pig a' nighean na nigheanan girl am pàisde na pàisdean infant a' phòg na pògan kiss an sgàthan na sgàthanan mirror a' sgian na sgianan knife an uinneag na h-uinneagan window
Suffix -ean
Common singular Common/Dative plural English an càird na càirdean relative an caraid na caraidean friend an clòsaid na clòsaidean closet an t-iasgadair na h-iasgadairan fisherman an taigh na taighean house an t-sùil na sùilean eye
Make slender and suffix -ean
Common singular Common/Dative plural English an clàrsach na clàrsaichean harp an rathad na rathaidean road am monadh na monaidhean moor
Syncope and suffix -(e)an
The Broad and Slender of new consonant cluster may change., then suffix -ean or -an
Common singular Common/Dative plural English am bràthair na bràithrean brother an dorus na dorsan door an t-ubhal na h-ubhlan egg
Suffix annan
Common singular Common/Dative plural English rium riumannan room
Suffix t(e)an
(other changes including deleting final vowel and broadening and making slender)
Common singular Common/Dative plural English am baile na bailtean a' bheinn na beanntan mountain an sgoil na sgoiltean
Suffix (a)ichean/achan
Suffix aichean
singular plural English am bus na busaichean bus an car na càraichean car an sgona na sgonaichean scone an t-ogha na h-oghaichean grandchildren
Suffix -ichean
singular plural English an bocsa na bocsaichean box am bàta na bàtaichean boat an lampa na lampaichean lamp an t-ogha na h-oghaichean grandchildren
Syncope and Suffix -aichean
singular plural English cathair cathraichean chair an seòmar na seòmraichean box
Suffix -achan
singular plural English a' chiste na cisteachan chest
Suffix -chan
singular plural English am balla na ballachan wall an sofa na sofachan sofa
Irregular Plurals
singular plural English a' bhò na ba cow a' chaora na caoraich sheep an cù na coin dog an duine na daoine husband/person a' mhuir na marannan sea a' phiuthair na peathraichean sister
See Also
External Links
References
- Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications.
